Feds say Dutschke connects with letters, other evidence

OXFORD – J. Everett Dutschke’s handwriting is on a letter containing a recipe for ricin, the government claims in a new filing Friday to his attorney defending him against federal charges that he sent poison-laden letters to elected officials.

Prosecutors detail various other alleged evidence noted in reports about ricin found in letters, on a dust mask, in drain pipes at his Tupelo martial arts studio and his handwriting on a template for a letter to be sent to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Tupelo.

This information comes in response to Dutschke defense counsel Ken Coghlan’s request to the U.S. District Court to order the government to turn over more information about more than 42 expert witnesses it may call at Dutschke’s trial set to begin in May 2014.

Dutschke, 42, was arrested April 27 on suspicion that he masterminded the letter scheme to President Barack Obama, Wicker and Lee County Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland.

A federal grand jury indicted him in May on five counts, including that he tried to frame Elvis impersonator Kevin Curtis of Corinth with the scheme.

Thursday, a new indictment also accused him of trying to get someone to send another ricin letter to Wicker with a message allegedly signed by Curtis.

All totaled, he faces six counts with punishment of up to life in prison, if he is convicted.

Dutschke insists he is innocent. He remains without bond in the Oxford-Lafayette County Jail.